Cyclone Kyant: Odisha CM reviews preparedness

Even as the Meteorological Department predicted less impact of cyclone Kyant on Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today held a review meeting at the state secretariat here to take stock of the preparedness.

Patnaik held discussions with collectors of 14 districts via video conference and directed them to remain alert, informed Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra after the meeting.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to be ready with their contingency plan for rescue and relief operation during the cyclone period.

“As per Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), cyclone Kyant is heading towards Andhra Pradesh. However, collectors of 14 districts have been asked to stay alert. They have also been asked to advise farmers to keep the harvested crops covered as rain is expected under the influence of the cyclonic storm. Government holidays have been cancelled in view of possible rain on October 29 and 30,” the SRC said.

“The deep depression over east-central Bay of Bengal moved further west-northwestwards and intensified into a cyclonic storm ‘KYANT’ and lay centred at 0830 hrs IST of 25th October, 2016 over east-central Bay of Bengal, near Latitude 17.0º N and Longitude 91.2º E, about 620 km north-northwest of Port Blair, 710 km south-southeast of Gopalpur and 850 km east of Visakhapatnam. The system will move initially west-northwestwards and then west to west-southwestwards towards west-central Bay of Bengal during next 72 hours,” a bulletin of the IMD said.

“Squally winds speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is very likely to commence along and off Odisha and north coastal Andhra Pradesh coasts from 27th October 2016 onwards. Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea along and off Odisha and north coastal Andhra Pradesh coasts from 27 October onwards,” the bulletin added.